Stephen collins



{No Model.)

S. COLLINS.

FENCE.

No. 353.665. Patented Dec. '7, 1886.

Fig. 2.

` 'am A :maia WITJV'E/S'SES. V \\\y\\\ INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN COLLINS, OF OLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,665, dated December 7, v1886.

Application filed August 27, 1886. Serial No. 211,963.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known'that I, STEPHEN COLLINS, of the city of Clarksville, county ofMontgomery, and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to produce a very light and cheap but at the same time strong and durable fence, which will afford but little resistance to the wind and can be easily moved from place to place, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a. part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure lis a perspective view showing one panel and a portion of another of my improved fence in position for use; and Fig. 2 is a cross-section, looking to the left from the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. l.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the posts; B, the rails; C, cross-braces; D, D', and D, wires mounted on the wood-work of the fence; and E, tie-wires for securing the d panels together at their ends.

The posts A consist, preferably, of two uprights at each end `of the panel, one of which has .iron feet A bolted to its lower end. Said iron feet extend below the ends of said posts and are bent outward from each side thereof. A short distance below the end of said posts they are provided with holes a, and a tie-rod or wire, A2, (a wire being shown,) is mounted therein for the double purpose of securing said feet from spreading farther than desired, and also to hold lthem out of the ground sufficiently to prevent the wooden portion ofthe fence from "coming in contact with the ground. Said feet are provided, as shown, on one post of each panel, the other end of said panel being supported by the adjacent post of the next panel, as will be presently described.

The rails B are ordinary wooden rails, preferably arranged to present a thin edge to the side of the fence, thus giving great lateral strength to the fence, and also presenting but little surface to hold wind. The ends of said rails are mounted between the uprights forming the posts A, and secured therein by pins or bolts b passing through them, as'shown, the ends at that end of the panel which is without (No model.)

the iron feet being extended ont beyond the post a short distance, to engage with the end of the next panel,as will be presently described.

The cross-braces C are ordinary bars,extend ing across the fence from the top to the bottom rail at suitable intervals, preferably at angles, as shown, and are sufficient in number to give the required strength to the fence and warn stock of its presence.

The wires D are usually arranged two between each pair of rails, and extend from one post to the other of each panel, being secured by staples d or other means to said post and the transverse brace-bars. as shown, thus making said fence very tight, but at the same time light and strong. The wire D is prefer ably a barbed wire, as shown, arranged above the top rail of the fence for the usual purpose of a top wire. The wire D2 extends along under the lower rail of each panel from` the tierod or wire A2 of one set of iron feet to those of the next panel, thus tying both panels together and at the same time holding the fence free from the ground.

Each panel being constructed as described, the fence is putin position as follows: The iron feet uponone end of each panel are sunk in the ground a short distance and secured therein by the weight of the dirt, stones, or other matter piled upon them. The extending ends of the horizontal rails of each panel are inserted between the uprights of the adjacent post of the next panel, resting on top of its horizontal rails. The panels are then tied together at their ends by 'wires E or other suitable devices.

By this construction, as will be readily understood, I provide avery light fence and one easy to move, which at the same time is very strong and rigid, the peculiar formation of the feet giving it great stability, and also presents but little wind surface, by reason of the small size of its various parts necessary to give the required strength. All the wood of said fence being held free from the ground also prevents any liability of decay.

In case it is desired to make the fence permanent, a sill, F, may be sunk in the ground below the iron feet of each panel and said iron feet spiked thereto, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, as will be readily understood, or long IOO 2 t sses iron rods or spikes driven through said feet into the ground might be used, if preferred.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure 5 by Letters Potent, is

l. In a fence, the combination of the posts A, rails B, braces C, and Wires D, forming a fence-panel, the feet A', secured to one end of' said panel, tie Wiresor rods A2, and Wire D2, 1o connecting the tie-rod A2 of one panel to the tie-rod of the next panel, all substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the posts A, iron feet A, secured to the lower end thereof, the tie rod or Wire A2, securing said feet in position, 15 the rails B, cross-braces C, Wires D, and the Wire D2, extending from the tie-rod AZ of one panel to lthe tie-rod of the next panel, substan- 

